Ben Bamber
Date of birth (2001-01-24) 24 January 2001 [1]
Height207 cm (6 ft 9 in)
Weight126 kg (19 st 12 lb)[2]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Sale Sharks
Youth career
Huddersfield Giants
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020-2022 Bristol Bears ()
2021-2022 → Dings Crusaders (loan) ()
2022- Sale Sharks ()
2022-2023 → Sale FC (loan) ()
Correct as of 4 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021 England U20

Ben Bamber (born 24 January 2001) is an English rugby union player who plays in the second-row for Sale Sharks.

Career

Bamber initially played rugby league and was on the books of his boyhood club, Huddersfield Giants in 2018.[3]

He was spotted by scout Alan Tait who recommended him to Pat Lam at Bristol Bears and although initially reluctant to change codes to rugby union he did eventually sign.[4] In June 2020, he was promoted to train with the senior Bristol Bears squad.[5] In 2021, he signed a dual-registration contract to allow him to play on loan at Dings Crusaders in Lockleaze.[6] However, he injured his shoulder and despite recovering, quickly injured the other shoulder at an England U20 training session and demoralised, briefly quit the game. He worked, amongst other things, as a shelf-stacker in Flixton, Greater Manchester. After a trial with Sale Sharks in March 2022, he signed a full-time contract with the club.[4] He made his debut for Sale that season in the Premiership Rugby Cup.[7]

During the 2022-23 season he played on loan at Sale FC Rugby Club in National League 1 where he impressed, being awarded the Supporters’ Player of the Year.[8]

In February 2023, he signed a new contract with Sale Sharks.[9] In December 2023, he made his first European Champions Cup start for Sale Sharks against Stade Français.[10]

International career

On 1 January 2021, Bamber was called up to the England U20 squad.[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ "Ben Bamber". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ben Bamber". all.rugby. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  3. ↑ Booth, Mel (21 February 2018). "Huddersfield Giants Academy hoping to go one better against Newcastle Thunder". Examiner Live. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 Schofield, Daniel (27 December 2023). "Ben Bamber: Two years ago I was stacking crates of wine – now I'm playing for Sale". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  5. ↑ Baker, Max (3 June 2020). "Bristol Bears confirm retained list with 20 players departing". Bristol Post. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Fifteen Senior Academy players sign dual-registrations". Bristol Bears Rugby. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Preview: HARLEQUINS V SALE SHARKS - PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP ROUND 5". Premiershiprugby.com. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "Sale FC Annual Awards Evening". Salefc.com. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Sale Sharks confirm new contracts for 20 players". Ruck.co.uk. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Jones, Spencer (10 December 2023). "Local lads and life lessons – why Sale Sharks academy is thriving". The Times. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Savage, Angus (4 January 2021). "England U20: Stars to look out for as Dickens names 2020 EPS". NextgenXV. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  12. ↑ Jones, David (3 January 2021). "Promising England Rugby U20 future". Lastwordonsports. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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